When it comes to storage, it’s not necessarily the number of closets you have in your home  that counts but how well organized and efficient the closets are you do have are.

Good storage means maximizing space and storing items in an easy-to-access fashion. Modular closet organizers featuring shelves, drawers, and rods can turn the messiest area into perfectly functional storage space.

If you want a fast route to organizing a closet, purchase a ready-made storage system. If you like a cabinet-style approach, choose ready-to- assemble (RTA) kits made of melamine or wood-veneered panels. They are connected with easy-to-install cam studs and locks that fit into pre-bored holes in the panels.

Or, if you prefer something a bit more open, you can select one of the many popular chrome- or vinyl-coated wire systems, which are a snap to install.

Yet another alternative is to mix the two types and create your own combination of shelves, drawers, baskets, doors, hanging rods, and slide-out tie and belt racks.

When deciding on the components for a closet storage system, consider the types of items you want to store and their general dimensions, such as the hanging length of dresses, coats, shirts, blouses, and pants. Calculate how many lineal feet of hanging rods and shelves you will need to accommodate your wardrobe. Be aware that drawers add considerably to the cost; consider whether a shelf or another type of open storage might work just as well or better.

Place any items you want to access quickly on open shelves. Bulky clothing articles, including sweaters and hats, usually fit best on top of shelves. If you keep the closet area neat, such open storage can be decorative as well as functional.

Copyright Sunset Publishing Corporation